Sankardev

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Sankardev : biography

1449 – Cooch Behar

The popularity of Ekasarana and the conversion of people alarmed the priestly brahmins, who reacted with anger and hostility. Sankardev tried to diffuse their hostility—by meeting with them at the house of his relative Budha-Khan and asking his brahmin antagonists to install a wooden idol of Jagannath, called Madan-Mohan, at his religious seat. (Sankardev left this idol hanging on a tree when he took flight from Dhuwahat, and it was rescued years later by Vamshigopaldev and installed at Deberapar-sattra).The wooden idol was carved by one Korola Bhadai, and his invitation to the priests were conveyed by his brahmin associate Ramaram The brahmins finally complained to the Ahom king, Suhungmung (1497–1539), who summoned Sankardev to his court for a debate with them. Sankardev was able to convince the king that he was not a religious rebel and a threat to the social order, and the charges against him were dropped. The hostility, nevertheless, continued.

Flight from Dhuwahat

Though the positions of the Bhuyans in the Ahom kingdom began comfortably—with Sankardev’s son-in-law, Hari, becoming a Paik officer and Ramrai, his cousin, becoming a royal official—the relationship gradually deteriorated. After the death of Viswasingha, who was inimical to the Bhuyans, and the rise of Naranarayan (1540), the Koch-Bhuyan relationship improved somewhat."Prataprai Gabharu-Khan, who had escaped to Gauda when Viswasingha attacked them, returned to Kamrup and made a sort of alliance with Naranarayan Sometime in the 1540’s during the reign of Suklenmung (1539-1552) a royal officer visited the region for an elephant capturing expedition. Hari did not make himself available and furthermore, an elephant escaped through a barrier managed by the Bhuyans. The officer took grave offence in this dereliction of duty and arrested Hari as well as Madhavdev. At Garhgaon, Hari was excuted and Madhavdev interned for about a year. According to Daityari, taking advantage of the Koch advance against the Ahoms (1546-1547), Sankardev and his followers escaped from the Ahom kingdom as they fell behind the vanguard of the Koch army setting up their garrison in Narayanpur further to the east.The year of Sankardev’s escape is generally taken as 1546, first suggested by Bezbaroa . Others suggest 1540 .

Literary works in the Ahom kingdom

  1. Arguments against those antagonistic to bhakti
    • Kirtan-ghosa (Pasanda-mardana, Namaparadha)
    • (Vipra)-patni-prasad (Ankia Naat)
  2. Tales from Krishna’s early life
    • Kirtan-ghosa (sisu-lila, rasa-krida, kamsavadha, gopi-uddhava-samvada, kujir vancha-purana, akrurar vancha-purana)
  3. Borgeets

Koch kingdom

Sunpora

Sankardev and his followers reached Kapalabari in Koch kingdom in later part of 1540 and put up there. But the water was very alkaline there. Several members including Madhavdev’s mother Manorama died there. So after staying for some time at Kapalabari, Sankardev and his group moved to Sunpora in 1541. At Sunpora Sankardev initiated Bhavananda, a rich trader who had extensive business interest in the Garo and Bhutan hills besides Kamarupa. The trader, Narayana Das, settled at Janiya near Barpeta and took to agriculture. A man of the world otherwise, he soon flourished and became a provider to Sankardev and his devotees. He came to be known popularly as Thakur Ata.

Patbausi

After a great deal of moving, Sankardev settled at Patbausi near Barpeta in the Koch Kingdom and constructed a Kirtanghar (house of prayer). Some of the people he initiated here are Chakrapani Dwija and Sarvabhaum Bhattacharya, brahmins; Govinda, a Garo; Jayaram, a Bhutia; Madhai, a Jaintia; Jatiram, an ascetic; and Murari, a Koch. Damodardev, a brahmin, was initiated by Sankardev. Damodardev was entrusted by Sankardev to initiate brahmin disciples. A Sattra was also constructed for him at Patbausi itself. Later Damodardev became the founder of the Brahma Sanghati sect of Sankardev’s religion.